They may sound unrelated, yet on Saturday February 28, I’ll be speaking about both at this year’s Amelia Island Book Festival, held at Fernandina Beach Middle School in Fernandia Beach, Florida — and I’ll connect the dots.
That morning at 11:00, I will participate in a panel titled “Demystifying Today’s Publishing Options” moderated by Linda R. Sexton, author of The Branches We Cherish: An Open Adoption Memoir. Then, that afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30, I’ll appear along with other members of writers’ organization Amelia Island Writers, a chapter of Florida Writers Association, to talk about my upcoming thriller The Barbie Killer and sign copies of my other novels.
Here’s a short description of my new novel, which will be released on March 31 and is currently available (and “sale-priced”) on Preorder in Kindle format on Amazon:
“A job transfer uproots Dolly Garner’s family from Atlanta to the sleepy, small town of Huntington, Kansas, where safety seems like a given. But weeks after their arrival, a violent crime shocks the community, and the town’s dark secret is out: A serial killer lives in their midst and has been preying on the women of Huntington for decades. As paranoia surges and the line between neighbor and predator blurs, Dolly realizes she can’t trust anyone in this town. Inspired by true events, this twist-filled thriller will leave you breathless until the final page.”
If Kindle isn’t your thing (or even if it is), please attend my Book Launch at Story & Song Bookstore and Center for Arts and Culture on Tuesday March 31 at 4:00, where I will discuss the novel and answer questions about it. The event is complimentary, and wine and snacks will be served.
Back to the festival, where I will appear on the panel along with authors Linda R. Sexton, Jane Buyers, Ralph DeFalco, and Tom Hitchcock to give you the skinny on the publishing industry and describe our own paths to publication. We will talk frankly about the pros and cons of today’s publishing options, offer clarity and insights, and share the lessons we have learned along the way. Don’t miss it!
JULIA MCDERMOTT 
Well done Julia – You are killing it!!!Linda Linda R. SextonAUTHOR of award-winning THE BRANCHES WE CHERISH: AN OPEN ADOPTION MEMOIR lindarsexton.comBookshop | Amazon LinkedIn | Instagram | X(Twitter) | Facebook “If you loved The Branches We Cherish, a quick review on Amazon or Goodreads makes a huge difference!”
Julia,
Julia, I am excited about your upcoming presentation and the launch of your new book. Truly inspiring!